Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) have launched GSLV (Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle) Mark III rocket will be launched into orbit from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 5.28 pm on Monday, marking India’s most significant milestone in space technology.
This is a historic moment for Indian space research as GSLV Mark III is the heaviest rocket launched by ISRO yet. With this successful mission, Indian Space Research Organisation increased its capacity to launch satellites from 2.3 to 4 tons: By 70%.
Specifications of the Rocket:
• GSLV Mark III is 43.43 mm tall and weighs about 640 tons which make its heaviest launch in the world till date.
• The payload it carries is the GSAT-19 communications satellite which alone weighs 3,136kg.
• ISRO’s indigenous cryogenic engine is used which can lift up to 4,000kg of payload to the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and 10,000kg to the low-Earth orbit.
Uses of the GSAT-19 satellite:
According to ISRO, the GSAT-19 carries a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of charged particles and the influence of space radiation on satellites and their electronic components.
The word “transponder” will not be associated with this new bird in the sky. Instead for the first time, ISRO is using a whole new way beaming data down using multiple frequency beams and hence it is dubbed “a high throughput satellite”
With this launch, India will be able to launch heavy satellites on its own and will be joining a small club of heavy-lift satellite launchers. So far, only the space agency’s of the US, Russia, France, China, Japan and Europe are capable of satellites weighing 4,000 kilograms and more.
Other improvements, currently in the pipeline, will enable Mark III to carry heavier payloads. Up until now, ISRO has relied on European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ariane 5 rocket to launch satellites with larger mass. With this launch, ISRO will now work on launching vehicles with “electric propulsion system” so that large satellites can be sent into space by the agency.
Also read, ISRO launches 104 satellites at once.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the scientists by tweeting, “The GSLV – MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission takes India closer to the next generation launch vehicle and satellite capability. The nation is proud.!”
With this launch, India becomes the fourth nation followed by Russia, The United States, and China, to put astronauts into orbit but its manned spaceflight program has experienced multiple stops and starts.
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.